Lately my ketchup has lost its kick

Ever try Kick'rs? It is a sublime blend of Tobasco and Heinz ketchup. Let's reveal that I'm not typically a fan of "plain old" burgers and fries, but this product set out to change that. Jim and I both like our food with a little kick. But as a kid growing up, my dad used jalapenos like most fathers used salt: with reckless abandon. No food was out of bounds when it came to adding a little extra heat. So when it came to traditional ketchup, I was never a huge fan. In came Kick'rs. It was a simple yet clever idea that really lived up to its name. For 18 months Jim and I enjoyed better burgers with just the right hit of spice. And then the unthinkable happened... the stores stopped carrying it.

Desperate, we began trying to make it ourselves. For two culinary pros, we never could master this seemingly basic task. There truly is an art to mixing the correct ratio of ketchup to Tobasco. Several mouth-burning meals later we began to dig around the far corners of the net to solve the mystery.

Although there was virtually no information about it in the blogosphere, we did find a replacement product on the Heinz web site. My beloved condiment is being reintroduced as a part of a line called Heinz Ketchup Kickers. The Tobasco-infused variety is still offered, as is a garlic-laced version. The name has changed as has the packaging, but at least it should be available in stores sometime soon. (Until then it appears to be available on Amazon from retailers still clinging to a few bottles.)

Why share this? Because ketchup isn't a product I ever imagined myself seeking out online. Yet I did. Because when you can get someone to love a product like this, people should know. Heinz should know. And because as Malcolm Gladwell would say, the maven in me wants to share this with you so that your life too can be improved. It's grilling season kids. So go out this weekend and grill yourself a few burgers packing a little punch. Your tastebuds (and my dad) will thank you.